Ready! Set!! Prep!!! – Military Surplus Guns

So then. Prepping. What does it mean to you? What are you planning and prepping for? Are you single, or do you have a family/group? Are you Bunkering In or Bugging Out? Do you have any experience or are you new to the Culture? There are a million topics and subtopics involved in Prepping and in being a Prepper. This post will focus on Prepper Guns of the Military Surplus variety.

One very important thing is this, DO NOT let your perceived lack of skills stop you from being a Prepper. You probably have more valuable skills than you realize. If you were 100% ready for every situation, then you wouldn’t be a Prepper — you’d be Prepped, and you’d have no need of reading this. The realization that you need MORE knowledge and skills is important too as that’s what sets us on the path. We all have deficiencies in our Skill Sets. If you are reading this, then you are more than capable of picking up what you need to know.

This post is the first in a series about Prepper Guns, in which I will talk about the variety of guns available that are suited for SHTF or TEOTWAWKI situations. In this first post I’ll cover military surplus weapons. One of the most hotly debated subjects in American society today is firearms. If firearms offend you and you feel they have no place in society, or if you refuse to use a firearm for any reason, then this post is not for you. I’ll be there — or someone much like me will be — to claim your gear later. Seriously.

In a SHTF situation your ability to use a firearm is going to be critical. You’re going to need a People Killing Gun. Not only do you have to be able to use a PKG effectively, but you also have to be WILLING to use a PKG. I’m willing. Are You? Can you squeeze the trigger of a firearm and end the life of a fellow human that is a threat to you and yours?

Ultimately that’s something you and your conscience will have to decide. It’s not a topic to take lightly. The impact of taking a human life could have far reaching implications for you and your survival situation beyond any legal ramifications. Many in the military and law enforcement, men and women who have trained for the eventuality, have been broken mentally by taking a human life. Understand that in any SHTF survival situation people are going to be stressed. They are going to be desperate for their survival and are probably going to be in a mind set of “whatever it takes for me and mine to make it.” Just as you should be. Never carry a firearm, much less aim it at someone, unless you can without a doubt, no questions asked, use it to defend yourself and your family/group. When you squeeze the trigger you cannot stop that bullet from doing what it was designed to do. You can’t call timeout, or hit restart. There are no do-overs. When you squeeze that trigger, life will change for you. Forever.

Mosin-Nagant

Almost any old military surplus rifle, like the above mentioned Mosin-Nagant is still very capable of doing the job and fits the bill. The Mosin is chambered in the Russian 7.62x54mm cartridge. It’s been around for over 100 years and it’s still got the power to get the job done. It has the power to take Big Game or Two Legged Predators. It’s a bolt action firearm so it’s simple to use. It’s easy to shoot with moderate recoil. It’s easy to hit with, as its sights are simple. It was designed to be used by illiterate Russian peasants; that’s how simple it is. The Mosin-Nagant represents one end of the Military Surplus Rifle spectrum.

M1 Garand

At the other end of the Spectrum and still a very viable Prepper tool is the M1 Garand. A semi-auto battle rifle chambered in the American 30-06, it has the ability to deliver killing power to 1000 yards and beyond. It is hampered by its loading mechanism, a 8 round en-bloc clip that is loaded internally and then ejects when the last round has been fired. It can cleanly and effectively take Big Game and Human as the situation requires.

There are also several other common Military Surplus firearms that will fit a Prepper well. They fall in the middle of the Military Surplus Rifle Spectrum and are capable of defending against threats or harvesting game up to and including deer if the shooter does their part.

M1 Carbine

The first is the M1 Carbine. The shooting fraternity seems to have a Love/Hate Relationship with the M1 Carbine. It’s a lightweight, semi-auto rifle chambered in the .30 Carbine cartridge. It is fed from a magazine and is easy for kids and women to shoot and shoot well. It’s said that the .30 Carbine cartridge is anemic but I wouldn’t want to be shot by one. And there’s literally thousands of German, Japanese, Chinese, and North Korean soldiers who would disagree as well, had they not been killed by it.

SKS

The next rifle up is the Russian designed SKS. This little semi-auto dandy is chambered in the common 7.62x39mm and is typically fed via attached 10 round magazine. It’s a handy little PKG that’s suitable for women, children, or any small-framed adult. It has plenty of power and like the other PKGs listed above it has a proven track record in combat. There are enough accessories on the market for it to be modified to suit your needs. It’s a good Prepper tool.

So don’t discount the older Military Surplus type rifles. They fit right in to a Prepper’s needs. They are typically tough, rugged, easy to use, will take large and small game and are all proven PKGs.